Sat 1st Dec
9:00-12:30 (half day, registration rates below)
Workshop (limited places, reservation information)

Planetariums and other hemispherical displays are increasingly embracing the exciting possibilities offered by digital fulldome projection. Once the domain of high budget operations, there now exist a wider range of projection technologies suited to small inflatable domes to multi-projector systems in large fixed domes. As a consequence of fulldome projection the opportunities for planetariums as an immersive environment is expanding to more than the traditional astronomy education, for example, education in other science disciplines, pure entertainment, gaming, and artistic endeavours.

This course will introduce and discuss the basics of digital fulldome content creation and the various projection options. It will be targeted towards those who have recently started working in this area or are contemplating doing so. The course will concentrate on the fundamental principles of fisheye generation/projection rather than any one particular software package or technology. Upon completing the course attendees should feel comfortable working and problem solving in the discipline.

The course will include (but not be limited to) the following:

• General theory of angular fisheye projections.
• Topics relating to distortion, head tracking, sweet spots, center of attention.
• Various approximations to fisheye projections including offaxis fisheye projections.
• Generating fisheye images using cubic maps.
• Realtime fisheye generation (OpenGL).
• Issues relating to dome orientation.
• Overview of projector projection technologies.
• Various special topics such as stereoscopic fulldome and other exotic dome configurations.

A small upright dome will be available to illustrate many of the
topics discussed.

Attendees who have an interest in the spherical mirror projection will
have the opportunity after the course to discuss that technology in
more detail.

Note that a fulldome showreel will be presented at Horizon - the
Planetarium as a Graphite event on the evening of Sunday the 2nd
December.

Instructor
Paul Bourke
Western Australian Supercomputer Program
University of Western Australia.

Standard Registration Rates

Apply from Thursday 25th October.
Closing on Friday 30th November.

* All rates include GST (tax).

On-site Registration Rates

Apply to all delegates registering at the conference on Saturday 1st December.

* All rates include GST (tax).